Increasing the phase matrix in MRI will have what effect on image quality?

Increasing the phase matrix in MRI directly improves image quality by enhancing spatial resolution. The phase matrix refers to the number of frequency-encoding and phase-encoding steps used to sample the image data. A higher phase matrix indicates more phase-encoding steps, which allows for finer detail to be resolved in the image.

As a result, this leads to a more detailed and clearer image, as the increased number of sampling points captures more information about the spatial distribution of tissues and structures within the scanned area. This is particularly important for detecting small lesions or anatomical structures that can be easily missed with lower resolution settings.

While a higher phase matrix improves image quality, it typically results in longer scan times due to the increased amount of data being acquired. Thus, efficiency must be balanced with the desired image quality. Other options mentioned, such as lower resolution or increased noise, do not occur as a result of increasing the phase matrix, reinforcing that option relevant to improved resolution is indeed accurate.